The North-American oceanographer Sallie W. Chisholm, Ramon Margalef Prize in Ecology 2013, gives the lecture «Ocean microbes, climate, and geoengineering». The activity takes place on Wednesday 23 October, at 10 a.m., in the Aula Magna at the Faculty of Biology, affiliated centre with the campus of International excellence BKC. Her lecture is part of the scientific forum “To what extent does the ocean’s smallest species influence the earth’s climate system”, organised by the Department of Ecology of the UB. The Ramon Margalef Prize in Ecology, conferred by the Government of Catalonia, pays tribute to Ramon Margalef (1919-2004), emeritus professor from the UB and one of the most prestigious ecologists all over the world.

The scientific forum, opened by the rector, Dídac Ramírez, includes a round table (at 11.45 a.m.), moderated by Montserrat Vidal, expert on biological oceanography from the Department of Ecology of the UB. Speakers are Isabel Cacho, professor from the Department of Stratigraphy, Paleontology and Marine Geosciences of the UB and expert on paleoclimate and oceanography; Carles Pedrós Alió, expert on microbial ecology, and Rafael Simó, expert on marine biogeochemistry, both from the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC).

Dr Sallie W. Chisholm, researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has notably contributed to Ecology —particularly, in the fields of biological oceanography and marine ecology. She has played a crucial role in international oceanography research and promotion, as well as in decision-making processes concerning marine policies and management. She has been pioneer in proving the negative effects of iron fertilization on oceans, a technique proposed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, as it may alter significantly marine trophic networks and biogeochemical cycles. Throughout her career, she has received many awards, for instance the National Medal of Science, conferred by President Barack Obama on February 2013.

The jury of Ramon Margalef Prize has awarded Salli W. Chisholm “for being one of the most productive, charismatic and active researchers on biology and marine ecology”. The prize also recognises the key role that she has played in discovering and understanding marine photosynthetic organisms, and her effort to promote the study of oceans’ microbiology from a new and revolutionary perspective.

On Monday 21 October, the president of the Government of Catalonia, Artur Mas, confers the Ramon Margalef Prize in Ecology 2013 on Professor Sallie W. Chisholm within a ceremony that takes place at the Palau de la Generalitat.